Monday, April 15, 2013

The fact is that approximately 30,000 kids will apply to EACH of the eight Ivy League schools out of the over 8 million applicants to colleges/universities nation wide. The New York Times recently published this table (see link below) to illustrate the fact that many Ivy League schools are lowering their acceptance rates, so that fewer prospective students will be making it in at all. Translation, better plan to have multiple back ups and perhaps temper the dream of Ivy League splendor!

So,
why the push, push, push from parents to apply to Ivy League schools? I
am not sure I understand it myself, although I do try. What I see, more
often then not, is a lot of kids being pushed to exceed, excel and
extend themselves beyond what a good deal of them are even capable of
achieving on their own. And this push is coming at such young
ages. Do we really know the full affect all this will have on them in
the future? This constant need to push comes at a cost that most may be
unwilling to recognize.

Now,
this is not to say that all parents push unnecessarily. And let's face it some kids are performing far below what they are capable of achieving, so a push in the right direction might be just the thing for them! No indeed. Most parents do allow their children the space to decide for themselves, with guidance from them when needed, about collegiate goals.

Interestingly enough, I had the chance to "hang" and befriend a VERY privileged group of young
people in my late teens and early twenties who I met while working/living on Nantucket Island one summer. We kept in touch with one another for many long years after our summer of fun and frolic. I can
truly say this group, for the most part, had a predetermined path to follow, that affected not only their collegiate life, but their career choice as well. All was laid out very succinctly by their parents. This is still the case for many of the children I see who reside in the
affluent area where I currently live as well. These kids had little to no say in their
life so long ago, with regard to schooling/career, and still don't today.

If given the chance, watch the poignant movie Robin Williams
did many years ago called "Dead Poets Society." It is heartrending what one young man faces from his father when he tries to be who is
meant to be and not what his father NEEDS him to be. The end result of
this push from a parent and refusal to see their child for who they are
ends in a most horrible and entirely preventable way. And yes, while it is
indeed, a contrived Hollywood production, it does not fall far from the truth in
terms of the single-minded need for some parents to make their children
be who they need them to be and not who the children need to become for
themselves.

The fact remains that 25,000 to 40,000 kids typically apply to EACH of
the top eight schools and roughly 6 percent "get in." And even SADDER is
that this acceptance is no guarantee that a job will be had upon
graduation or that they will be happy with their career choice. How wonderful to say to all
"My child is going to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, etc....." BUT at WHAT cost?

Not all who seek the Ivy League are pushed though, and that is most important to mention. There are many kids who do strive for this perceived oasis of academic excellence all on their own. So, for them the goal is personal and that truly makes it a worthy reach. But for many who want to reach for the brass ring, the fact is they have a VERY small chance of ever "breaking in." Reality check for them is to have plenty of back up colleges! It will BE OK, TRULY!

It takes a brave parent to let your child be who they are meant to be.

It is true that jobs are fewer and hard to find, and will be even tougher and more competitive as time goes on. Those that have the ability to think outside the box, and create a job where none exists will do well. We need more square pegs in round holes and parents with the courage to allow those differences to shine!!! There are PLENTY of people who succeed in life with a non Ivy League School education, or a non traditional way of approaching schooling.

Let them be happy and BE KIDS, first! It all ends too soon as it is, and that is a reality that no Ivy League School can stop!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

I feel as though my posts have been rather rudimentary of late and realize I need to invest the time in a website to detail all this important information. Alas, the time to do so has not been so easy to schedule, so in the meantime, I will continue to post things here regarding classes and such, as well as blogging about all things mindful.

Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it
easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands
already meeting up face-to-face. More than 9,000 groups get together in
local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving
themselves or their communities.
Meetup's mission is to revitalize local community
and help people around the world self-organize. Meetup believes
that people can change their personal world, or the whole world, by
organizing themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a
difference.

Here's how I describe or use it:

This is a place where people from all over the world can seek out groups of like minded people on a variety of topics. It is like an online, "go to" spot for clubs and organizations. Meditation, yoga, heath and wellness groups are available all across the nation, along with a myriad of other meet up groups. Basically, if you have a hobby or interest, there is probably a group meeting somewhere and if not, start one! It is a fun way to get out and meet people who share your love about a particular hobby, practice or field of study.

I use my MEET UP site to let people know what classes I am currently teaching and also about the Monthly Meditation Practice Group that just started in April of 2013.

Keep this link above handy, along with my blog link, in order to follow all the latest, up-to-date information on classes and such.

If you ever wondered about meditation and how it might fit into your life, this might just be the class for you.

In
this 6 week program students will be introduced to a variety of
meditation and mindfulness techniques in a fun and supportive way.

Winter
skies are fading fast, lingering snow and the ever watchful promise of spring can all
bring about a feeling of lethargy, stagnation and yes, agitation.There are
ways to bring a sense of calm and focus to your life that can be nicely
worked into your day or week without having to sit for long hours on a
cushion, in some remote locale, trying to gain a sense of peace. Sounds
great, but how practical is this visage in our daily lives? For most of
us, not very realistic.

All you need to bring is an
open mind and the willingness to learn new things and maybe, just maybe,
you might find a sense of space, calm or insight in the midst of life
as we know it!

PLEASE NOTE: This is my last class until the fall of 2013.

NEW!!!
NEXT FALL I plan on alternating between a Beginner 101 and Beginner
102 class. So, keep a watch out here on my blog, on my Meet Up site, or
the link above to the Town Recreation Department. Many of my students
have been requesting this and I am glad to make it work! So thank you
all for making this a truly meaningful year teaching so many of you the
benefits of meditation!

Join us this Sunday at BYPC for our first monthly gathering to meditate as an ongoing practice group. Enter from the back, lower level of the building. I will post a handwritten sign on the door where you will come in to help you find us!

PLEASE NOTE: Whether or not you are currently meditating does not matter, this is a once a month time to renew, recharge or reaffirm how beneficial it is to meditate together as a group. There is truly a strength that comes from being with like-minded people who know how well meditation works in daily life.

I welcome all new, current or former Meditation and Mindful Living students to join us, or anyone who has some prior meditative experience. Plus, if you know someone who would like to attend, please feel free to bring him or her along! My hope is that our group will grow in size as the months progress so please don’t be shy about asking others to come along. Spread the word, it will help us expand!

Each Sunday we meet I will gently guide us through the process, so you will feel supported in your practice. We will do a variety of guided, walking and silent meditations, as a group, and the format will vary monthly. The one constant that will remain is that all meditations are mindfulness-based as a means to enhance our ability to focus on the present moment, with non-judgmental awareness.

Come join us ANY Sunday, also, you do not need to RSVP.

I will NOT be charging a fee for these monthly meet-ups but will have a box in the room for donations. A portion of the money collected will go to BYPC for the generous use of their space.

This gathering is as important to my own practice as it is to all of yours, so I do hope to see you this or any other Sunday you can make it! May's Sunday Date will be posted early next week, so check back here for further information.Warmest Regards to you all in this present moment!
Image Used from Internet

If you ever wondered about meditation and how it might fit into your life, this might just be the class for you.

In
this 6 week program students will be introduced to a variety of
meditation and mindfulness techniques in a fun and supportive way.

Winter
skies are fading fast, lingering snow and the ever watchful promise of spring can all
bring about a feeling of lethargy, stagnation and yes, agitation.There are
ways to bring a sense of calm and focus to your life that can be nicely
worked into your day or week without having to sit for long hours on a
cushion, in some remote locale, trying to gain a sense of peace. Sounds
great, but how practical is this visage in our daily lives? For most of
us, not very realistic.

All you need to bring is an
open mind and the willingness to learn new things and maybe, just maybe,
you might find a sense of space, calm or insight in the midst of life
as we know it!

PLEASE NOTE: This is my last class until the fall of 2013.

NEW!!! NEXT FALL I plan on alternating between a Beginner 101 and Beginner 102 class. So, keep a watch out here on my blog, on my Meet Up site, or the link above to the Town Recreation Department. Many of my students have been requesting this and I am glad to make it work! So thank you all for making this a truly meaningful year teaching so many of you the benefits of meditation!

Welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. The intent here is to both inform and allow for further exploration of mindfulness, meditation and more!

Many of us tend to not express what we are truly feeling about aging and the thought of getting older. I have never seen myself as an "age" however I do see the effects of this inevitable process in my thoughts, actions and body. Trying to make the most of this life we are all given is everyone's aim and I hope to bring a small sense of connectedness to the fact that we all are on the same path. Some of us, myself included, just need a gentle reminder of this every now and then.

I have tried my best to be (mostly) mindful in my postings but cannot always guarantee this to be true since old habits and ways of reacting do peek through occasionally.

In the often quoted words of Bette Davis:"fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"